Even Judge Jesus isn’t having it.
By DON THOMPSON
SACRAMENTO — A federal judge on Wednesday said he will deny a bid by three Southern California churches to hold in-person church services during the pandemic, saying that government's emergency powers trump what in normal times would be fundamental constitutional rights.
U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal in Los Angeles said he will reject the temporary restraining order the churches sought against Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials. They argued that the state's stay-at-home orders violate the First Amendment right to freedom of religion and assembly.
“During the state of emergency the executive powers are in effect, in that they are empowered to provide for emergency remedies which may infringe on fundamental constitutional rights,” Bernal said the the end of the hour-long hearing. He said he will soon issue a formal ruling.
James Dean Moffatt, pastor of Church Unlimited, has been fined $1,000 for allegedly violating the stay-at-home order, which he claimed infringes on his belief “that scripture commands him as a pastor to lay hands on people and pray for them," which he cannot do without in-person services.